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Cabronita Cantina

#141
2saddleslab said:
40 clams for a custom pg seems reasonable to me.
Click to expand...

Me too, in something like tort or pearl. In a simple plain single-ply, I think it's crazy.

I'm a manufacturing guy. It seems to me that three things affect the cost of the guard, when comparing two of like material:

1. Whether or not I have to make a new template for it;
2. How much material it requires;
3. The complexity of the cut.

Well, we know they already have a template. It's a very small guard. And not only is it not complex, it's the simplest guard I can even think of - a simple outline and four screw holes. No inner cuts...not even a side bevel.

So why is it more than a 3xSC Strat guard?
 
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#142
AdmiralB said:
Me too, in something like tort or pearl. In a simple plain single-ply, I think it's crazy.

I'm a manufacturing guy. It seems to me that three things affect the cost of the guard, when comparing two of like material:

1. Whether or not I have to make a new template for it;
2. How much material it requires;
3. The complexity of the cut.

Well, we know they already have a template. It's a very small guard. And not only is it not complex, it's the simplest guard I can even think of - a simple outline and four screw holes. No inner cuts...not even a side bevel.

So why is it more than a 3xSC Strat guard?
Click to expand...

Because price isn't determined by any of those things. Fender isn't selling replacement guards, they are, and people want to buy them. Why would they sell for less when people like GFB and ASATMAN think that price is reasonable (whether it is or isn't)?
 
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#143
AdmiralB said:
Me too, in something like tort or pearl. In a simple plain single-ply, I think it's crazy.

I'm a manufacturing guy. It seems to me that three things affect the cost of the guard, when comparing two of like material:

1. Whether or not I have to make a new template for it;
2. How much material it requires;
3. The complexity of the cut.

Well, we know they already have a template. It's a very small guard. And not only is it not complex, it's the simplest guard I can even think of - a simple outline and four screw holes. No inner cuts...not even a side bevel.

So why is it more than a 3xSC Strat guard?
Click to expand...
I know that seems steep but what you may not know is that it DOES have a bevel on the ones they make even though the stock issue does not. They aren't pictured beveled, none of their guards are pictured beveled but they show what the bevel looks like in the small picture underneath where it shows the ply number so I imagine that's part of it. Also I think it comes down to really how many do you think they sell compared to something more common? I got nothing but love for cabbies, hell I want a burst now so I can have 'em all lol, but I think we are in the minority and they gotta stop the presses on the P bass line to make one of them. I agree it is a bit high if you just want a 1 ply black or white but maybe try and find a swap with someone for black that wants a white or vice versa. Or...you have the template, whip one up on blank stock or try wet sanding yours with 600 and shoot it, or lay contact paper on it and trim it with an exacto.
 
#146
God's Favorite Bass said:
Or...you have the template, whip one up on blank stock or try wet sanding yours with 600 and shoot it, or lay contact paper on it and trim it with an exacto.
Click to expand...

If I decide I want a stock-profile guard, I'll probably go to Warmoth. They have the template for the guitar, I'll ask about the bass.

I had a couple Tele Cabs in 2012; I had Chandler make me a guard for one - they had to make a template from mine (and of course I had to pay for that), and it was still only $45 total.

FWIW, WD has always been expensive for guards. Warmoth is the best deal, if they make what you want.
 
#150
AdmiralB said:
That's a good price.

I decided to do my own; I've got all the tools. But I really want a '51 style guard, so I'm focusing on that.
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That would look absolutely cool! I thought about doing my own pickguard, as i've done in the past (jazzmaster styke pg). But seeing that the tortoise pg blank costs above $50 everywhere, 35 clams + shipping doesn't seem bad at all. Plus is 'nitro' tort, not copy cat tort, which I don't like.
 
#151
A '51 guard appears to fit with the exception of the top rear screw. Mine is black, so a fill/touchup would be pretty easy. You'd still be left with the 'notch' for the '51 control plate; the easiest thing to do would be plug the existing control holes, attach the plate, and drill new ones. The pots would still be rear-mounted.

But I have a different idea, and we'll see how it pans out. My guitar has nickel hardware (tuners are stock, bridge is nickel, pickup has a nickel Gretsch "US PAT" cover) and nobody makes a nickel '51 control plate. I asked Bill Callaham if he'd make one from stainless, but I've not heard back yet and in any case it's a complication I'd really rather avoid.
 
#152
Ok guys, so I bit the bullet and bought the TV Jones thunderblade pickup.
I installed it on friday, but was pretty much in a hurry, and had a scratchy volume pot. My brother fixed it over the weekend, and yesterday I played it. Have to say that the thunderblade sounds HUGE! Oh my, the sound compared to the Fideli'tron pickup, let's put it that way, there is NO comparison. I don't know if I got a bad pickup from Squier, but the TV Jones is awesome! I hooked it up to some CTS 250k mini pots, cloth wire (it's tidier for me), the mandatory Switchkraft jack with an elektrosocket and for a capacitor, TV Jones suggested a .022 orange drop cap.

Thanks ASATMAN for the wiring diagram. Everything went smooth, and tidy.

Sound wise, I don't know what is up, but it does sound a liiiittle bit darker than my P bass, with rounds. So I'm thinking of just leaving my P bass with rounds, and the Cab with my beloved Chrome flats. Let's see how that works out, because I love me some flats on the p bass. I guess the Curtis Novak is a LOT more clearer sounding than the TV Jones, and frankly, totally different beasts.

That said, don'd get me wrong, I recommend the Thunderblade pickup SOOOOOOOO MUCH! Really..the fideli'tron is just weak sauce compared to it.

***Techy guys: If I want to brighten the tone a bit..would changing the cap to a .047 one help? Or would I be better off with a 500k tone pot?***
 
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#154
bassingeorge said:
Ok guys, so I bit the bullet and bought the TV Jones thunderblade pickup.
I installed it on friday, but was pretty much in a hurry, and had a scratchy volume pot. My brother fixed it over the weekend, and yesterday I played it. Have to say that the thunderblade sounds HUGE! Oh my, the sound compared to the Fideli'tron pickup, let's put it that way, there is NO comparison. I don't know if I got a bad pickup from Squier, but the TV Jones is awesome! I hooked it up to some CTS 250k mini pots, cloth wire (it's tidier for me), the mandatory Switchkraft jack with an elektrosocket and for a capacitor, TV Jones suggested a .022 orange drop cap.

Thanks ASATMAN for the wiring diagram. Everything went smooth, and tidy.

Sound wise, I don't know what is up, but it does sound a liiiittle bit darker than my P bass, with rounds. So I'm thinking of just leaving my P bass with rounds, and the Cab with my beloved Chrome flats. Let's see how that works out, because I love me some flats on the p bass. I guess the Curtis Novak is a LOT more clearer sounding than the TV Jones, and frankly, totally different beasts.

That said, don'd get me wrong, I recommend the Thunderblade pickup SOOOOOOOO MUCH! Really..the fideli'tron is just weak sauce compared to it.

***Techy guys: If I want to brighten the tone a bit..would changing the cap to a .047 one help? Or would I be better off with a 500k tone pot?***
Click to expand...

No expert on wiring but I think the 500K pots will brighten [open] things up a bit, they are made specifically for hum buckers . The .047 cap will take more highs out when dialed all the way down compared to the .022, for more of a dub tone.

Btw, was the wiring schematic I sent much different than the original? Glad it worked out for you.
 
#155
Great! I did install some 500k pots on a short scale jaguar bass I had for a while, but it just sounded soooo bright and brittle, so I kind of steered away from 500k for this one.
But I'll definitely install one now that I know.

One thing. Can I leave the volume 250k and just do the tone pot 500k?
 
#156
Yes, but pot changes in general are usually very subtle. If you put a 500K tone pot in and don't like it, you can just turn it down halfway (not rotationally halfway, assuming audio taper, but half value - probably from '10' to about '8.5') and you're back at 250K.
 
#157
Yeah, I do get it. That's what I did on the Jaguar I was telling you about. Turn the tone a little bit and hit the sweet spot.
Yeah, I'll end up installing the 500k tone pot just for kicks. I'll post some pics of the pickup later. Thanks guys.
Oh, and installing vintage tuners soon, I just bought some.
 
#159
bassingeorge said:
Yeah, I do get it. That's what I did on the Jaguar I was telling you about. Turn the tone a little bit and hit the sweet spot.
Yeah, I'll end up installing the 500k tone pot just for kicks. I'll post some pics of the pickup later. Thanks guys.
Oh, and installing vintage tuners soon, I just bought some.
Click to expand...

I've lost track - is yours the MIM or the Squier? I suppose they come with the same stock pickup, though?
 

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